Press Release - thank you mentors for your support for local businesses

Local Mentoring Scheme Takes Top Honour

Local businesses which have benefited from one to one mentoring have voted the Nelson Tasman Business Trust the best in the country.

The inaugural Best Agent Award has been given to Trust Manager Sarah Holmes and the team, following feedback from its own client base, ahead of 13 other schemes in the country.

Set up to recognise the efforts of the agencies which assist business people across a diverse range of products and services, the award was judged on client feedback across three areas.

• The promptness of the Agent’s response
• Level of follow-up support
• Overall satisfaction of service

Sarah Holmes says wining the award is testament to the quality of the volunteer mentors involved in the Nelson Tasman scheme, which has assisted 142 businesses over the past 12 months.

“We have a skilled base of mentors working with clients across a range of businesses, from hazel nut growers and jewellers, through to photographers, a chocolate maker and a mountain biking venture. That our clients have judged our service so highly shows the value of the mentors and the assistance they provide.”

Part of the Business Mentors NZ network, the Nelson Tasman Business Trust matches mentors to businesses, which then benefit from two years of free mentoring support, for only a $112.50 registration fee. Operating locally since 1989, the Trust is funded by the Nelson City and Tasman District Councils and the Canterbury Community Trust.